The date was chosen in memory of military correspondent Dmytro Labutkin, who died on this day during hostilities in eastern…
In his youth, he did not serve in the army for health reasons, but on February 24, 2022, he volunteered to defend Ukraine.
His story was published by the 3rd Separate Heavy Mechanized Iron Brigade.
Senior soldier Mykola Novotarskyi, callsign “Myslyvets” (“Hunter”), 51 years old, is a fuel truck driver of the logistics platoon of the brigade’s repair and recovery battalion.
The invasion of the “Moscow horde” caught him at home in Khmelnytskyi region.
“I heard powerful explosions. Immediately understood — the big war had begun. Checked my phone — yes, full-scale invasion. I realized my time had come to go to the army”, — Mykola recalls.
Without waiting for a draft notice, he went to the recruitment center. On the night of February 26, together with other new recruits of the 3rd Tank Brigade, he was loading ammunition for tanks and self-propelled guns preparing to head to the front.
“The work was hard, but there was no time to rest. We worked like mad. We understood — the equipment was needed at the front. The motivation was enormous”, — “Myslyvets” says.
Then came the Kharkiv region. Mykola guarded a field repair base near the front line.
“Anything could happen. Tanks were repaired in a forest belt, and we provided security. Missiles and artillery would strike us. But despite everything, we did our job as required”, — he recalls.
His callsign comes from his peacetime hobby — hunting.
“Now we’re engaged in a big hunt for terrifying humanoid creatures from the Moscow swamps. So the callsign fits”, — Mykola smiles.
After the liberation of the Kharkiv region in autumn 2022, he received new duties. Command noticed his diligence, accuracy, and honesty and entrusted him with fuel supplies. Thus he became a refueler.
At first glance the job seems easy, but this is misleading. It’s a 24/7 duty with no days off. Equipment constantly needs fuel, and the driver’s life is often at risk.
Night trips to fetch fuel and deliver it to units are particularly dangerous. Most logistics happen at night because enemy drones hunt fuel trucks.
“You drive fully loaded and understand you’re controlling a kind of multi-ton ‘bomb’ on wheels. But you push these thoughts away and take maximum safety measures”, — Mykola explains.
For protection against drones, he purchased a semi-automatic shotgun and takes it on every trip.
His rare moments of rest he dedicates to art. Educated as an artist, he engraves metal. Many supporters of the Iron Brigade have received souvenirs engraved by him.
“It’s a kind of psychological recovery. After four years, the fatigue is strong and you need to relieve it. Though there’s little time for such ‘procedures.’ And there aren’t many volunteers to replace us, so we keep working”, — Mykola says.
His wife Nataliia, son Oleksandr, and daughter Alina are waiting for him at home.
